Until Sunday, Emma Raducanu has not been able to win a match with the Flushing Meadows since lifting the US Open Women’s Singles title in 2021.
This year, Radukanu claimed the venue was her “Happy Place,” and she led the tournament to a promising start by mitigating past Japanese qualifier Enachibahara in straight sets.
This victory is the latest bright spot in some of the best tennis in Radukanu’s career so far, to return to the top 30 in the world using her consistent results and injury-free health.
“Of course I’m very pleased,” Radkanu said. He said it had been a while since he came out to the right of the New York score.
On a refreshing, partly cloudy morning, Radkanu grew stronger in his first match of the day at Louis Armstrong Stadium, requiring just 40 minutes and a second two breaks to lead in the set.
Her new coach, Francisco Roig, worked with 22-time major champion Rafael Nadal for many years, always providing positive reinforcement sitting near the corner of the court, making Radukanu’s groundstroke rushed over Nishihara, a Japanese qualifier who frequently ranked 128th.
“Vamos!” Roig said at one point. “You’re doing very good things.”
Shibahara had not dropped the set through three qualifying wins. And Radukanu can see more of the momentum he can gain in the main draw than anyone else. Raducanu is the only tennis player to win a Grand Slam title after having to qualify to win a spot in the tournament bracket.
But things have not made plans for Radukanu since that life-changing victory. In 2022, she became the third female champion in her professional days, losing in the first round a year later, after Svetlana Kuznetsova and Angelique Carver.
And then there were some injuries issues.
Radukanu is currently healthy and she has shown that she can do it at her best against her overmatch opponent.
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She only faced one breakpoint and saved it.
She only created six unlimited errors – and moved forward by allowing the Shinobu to finish at 36.
“I managed myself and managed the game during that match,” Radkanu said. “I’m looking at the progress I’m making on the practice court.”
Information from the Associated Press was included in this report.